6th Sunday after Epiphany St George’s Ivanhoe East 2018
Who are our modern day Lepers? {I am speaking metaphorically here}
A few years ago, in the mid 1980’s people with HIV Aids were regarded in many circles as modern day lepers with their sickness due to their unacceptable behavior and as a result of their sin. There was maligning of those affected and their life style condemned. Some more conservative and Fundamentalist Christians claimed God was punishing them for their behavior quoting Old Testament texts to justify their position. It is interesting and I suspect surprising to some now that same sex relationships are not condemned in the manner of the 1980’s and our nation has approved the marriage of couples of the same sex. In the Anglican Church community there is a diversity of opinion and attitude to the recognition given to this matter, whether it is due to advances in medical science to prevent the disease or for other reasons.
Then there are the refuges and asylum seekers, or as our politicians describe them as “boat people” or illegimates, many if not the majority fleeing from persecution and abuse in their homelands. Today there are 60 million people who are homeless and on the move due to persecution and corruption, with nearly 35% being children. As a nation we allow and treat those held in detention centers with disdain, arrogance self interest and aggression, making derogatory comments about their faith and backgrounds and deny them access to community life. I hear you say not all of us, but we allow governments to act as though we do by not speaking out and challenging the policies. We forget also that we are a nation made up of asylum seekers, refuges from the days of the first colonies in this country with the British beginning the practice of offshore detention.
Then there are Rohingas in Myanmar today, and do not let us forget the genocides in Rwanda, Cambodia and even of our indigenous people in parts of Australia.
Then there are Muslims, pedophiles, the homeless, the mentally ill to name some, but with the proviso that they are not all discriminated by and in the eyes of everyone. It is often in the eyes of those who see or feel themselves as marginalized and on the fringe and excluded from mainstream society today who are the loudest critics and dissenters.
Leprosy as spoken about in the Old Testament lesson and Gospel we just heard is still feared in some parts of the global community, even though with modern health care I am told it can be controlled and cured. Within living memory people who contracted the disease were cut off from community, family and friends.
Up until the late 70’s and early 80’s children who were removed from the families including many Indigenous children, others with a disability of many kinds were placed in residential care, large institutions out of sight and mind. In Victoria our institutions were located outside Melbourne or on the fringe of the city limits at the time, making it often difficult for families and friends to remain contact and visit. Thankfully that is now not the case although the lack of resources to support vulnerable families and children remain a problem. We are also seeing a new wave I suggest of isolating, alienation, discrimination and abuse of older people.
The Old Testament and Gospel readings for today are parallel stories. Both tell of the rehabilitation of a person with Leprosy through an individual.
In the time of Jesus there were no social or community services as we know and experience them today. Those with leprosy and other diseases were shunned and quarantined and at the same time the widely held view was that their condition was a result of sin. Sufferers were then victims and culprits even if their condition was a result of the sin of another family member. It is the same as saying that diseases, or earthquakes or homelessness are a result of personal sin. While yes it is true that lifestyles may cause some illnesses, and the destruction of rain forest causes havoc in many areas on other parts of the landscape, we also know that similar lifestyles or activities do not effect everyone in the same way, and certainly good people get sick, while others with shady backgrounds or whatever live long and healthy life. I for one do not believe that God has his favourites and picks and choses. God does not zap in and then out according to his mood.
In today’s Gospel Jesus shows the depth and warmth of his compassion. Even though the leper has no right to approach Jesus he does so. The words that Jesus felt pity for him is an under statement. The Greek is far stronger and can be translated as “Jesus was gutted and felt immense sorrow to the depth of his being”. The leper’s condition got to him and he was overcome with fierce emotion. Why was this so we may ask? Was the leper taunting Jesus, “Come on Jesus show me what you can do God man? Is he seeking to embarrass Jesus? Whatever his motive Jesus felt the moment and responded. He did not discriminated he responded with compassion whatever the circumstances. Oh how I wish I could when I see the way in which our governments and we seem unable, unwilling or powerless to intervene when we are presented with a tragedy of any sort. How I think to myself why I cannot do something more meaningful to the homeless or drug dependent person. I recall a number of years ago when visiting the then Footscray Office of Anglicare and coming face to face with a group of 16-18 year olds “shooting up as we say”. I asked them why? They answered with words “it is the only time we feel really good about ourselves”. I though at the time, Why can we not do better for these young people?
Jesus does the non permissible in today’s Gospel. He touched someone excluded from the community, ritually unclean and open to infection. Jesus opens his heart to this man whatever his motives. One can imagine the look of horror on the face of the onlookers at this action of an outrageous expression of love and hope. Likewise I received a similar response when I suggested to the Archbishop and Cathedral Chapter that we open the back of the Cathedral to accommodate homeless people. I wonder how we would respond?
Jesus then sternly sends this man away and tells him not to speak, or perhaps brag about what has happened other than to go to the priest to show his healing. By doing this he can be re integrated into the community. Jesus does not want any bragging about what he has done and as I said last week the miracle is not the centre piece of the story but rather that the Kingdom of God is at hand.
As followers of Jesus, people of the Kingdom, we are called to act and speak as Jesus. When faced with sickness, discrimination, prejudice, hatred and segregation we are called to move into action. If we want to change things , we like Jesus, need to be humble and listen. We need to challenge propaganda that seeks to discriminate, dehumanize and scapegoat those who are different, difficult or dissident. Empathy and direct engagement rather then fluffy liberal or religious speak should be guiding principles that embrace compassion and justice central to our Christian witness in today’s world.
At the end of the Gospel story today Jesus finds himself once more besieged. Earlier he left Capernaum because the whole town was after him. Now no town offers him refuge and he must stay away in the country.
While we may not be sent away, our voice may be muffled and ignored but as Fr. Noel Whale reminded those of us who attended his lecture last Tuesday night we need to find new ways to connect, to listen, to be outrageous and provocative and to open to the disturbing spirit of God for our times.
Amen